Gb oils is it bad Drivers, bad Mangers or a bad Union

GB Oils is it bad Drivers,Mangers or a bad Union. I have been asked by a few driver just when is the Union going to get of it's backside and help? the workforce that pays their "fat wages

(Driver One) I would just like say what a shower gb oils are recently took a winter relief drivers which was supposed to last 5 months, 2months in, the board whoever they may be decided in there wise wisdom due to current conditions to finish the contract leaving me high and dry. I am just wondered how many people would take a job for 2 months not many i would suggest they also seem to have a habit of getting rid of shop steward s perhaps they something to hide but my sympathy lies with all you guys that are left because they have no value of drivers who are experienced or otherwise. What a ruthless shower for such a big company with such a narrow vision anyone wishing to contact me feel free and i will tell it how it is. (Driver Two) I was a driver at F Peart Co for 15 years till this monster came in and turned the place upside down,like above i was driving a wagon that had been apparently scrapped 2 weeks before,so i was driving a veh which was declared scrapped,yet they claim to be realy strict on vehicle roadworthyness lol!!they treat me like shxt for my last 2 mnths till i left and went to an independent company.nearly all gb drivers cant stand who they work for now,they are also worried that 1 mistake and your out the door if they so wish.i hate this company and so do many others,goodluck gb oils drivers.....

I see that we had another free advert on the TV from Rip-off Britain Merry Xmas to all

I see that we had another free advert on the TV from Rip-off Britain

Profits good and shareholders get 5 per cent more than last years payout at DCC

DCC said yesterday that operating profits was €58.3 million for the  six months ending September 30th
DCC earns the bulk of its revenues and profits in the second half of the year. Yesterday it reported that sales for the first six months were up 11 per cent at €4.4 billion on the €4 billion it reported for the same period in 2010.
Chief executive Tommy Breen said DCC was “keeping its fingers crossed” that its main markets – Ireland and Britain – would experience similar conditions this year, but the group was operating on the basis that normal, milder winter weather would prevail.
The group is proposing to pay an interim dividend of 27.42 cent which is 5 per cent more than the 26.11 cent it paid out to shareholders at the half-way stage last year.

We are GB Fuels, not GB Oils

Throughout this tough winter period, GB Fuels has always striven to provide the best level of service, treating all its customers with the same level of care and consideration. This service is provided by GB Fuels, an independent, family-owned and family-managed business, which is not part of GB Oils Ltd.

You may have read articles in both national and local newspapers about an Irish company, DCC Plc. They operate in the UK as GB Oils Ltd. This subsidiary was formed in 2004 and I would like to stress that it has no connection whatsoever with GB Fuels, which is an independent, family-owned and family-managed company, founded by my great-grandfather in 1877.

As such, we are currently in dispute with DCC Plc over the use of the GB Oils Ltd name. Through this name, they have acquired numerous oil companies and, in the North East, now have what is approaching a supply monopoly. The companies they have bought, which operate in the North East, include: Brett Fuels, James D Johnston, F Peart & Co, Charter Fuels, Bayford & Co, Emo, Noble Fuels and CPL Petroleum.

These companies continue to trade under their original brand names, despite being 100% owned and controlled by DCC Plc. We advise all our customers to note that, in the North East, truly independent fuel supply companies are now rare and we are proud to be one of the few remaining.

GB Fuels has over 130 years of experience in the industry and region and we pride ourselves on our independence, which we believe allows us to provide a friendly, professional service, at competitive prices.

DCC Plc has also been acquiring heating oil price comparison websites, including Boiler Juice.com, which provides supposedly the lowest quotes from several companies in the area. In an area like the North East, these quotes are, of course, mainly from their own companies and, as stated in numerous recent press articles, do not always offer the lowest prices.

Featuring on the BBC TV news in mid-December, I explained the problems which the industry faced in the adverse weather conditions and how we were trying to make sure all our customers had enough oil over Christmas. I am proud to say that, although we had to turn away many non-customers due to industry supply issues, we were able to quote and supply the vast majority of our customers over this period.

The prices we quoted to all our customers were always among the lowest of our competitors and remained so, despite national heating oil supply problems in December - and in contrast to some companies, which were subject to ‘profiteering’ allegations in the press.

DCC to buy Total assets

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0923/breaking8.htmlDCC has agreed to buy oil distribution assets owned by Total in Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in a deal worth €67 million.
The company is to buy the assets from Rontec Investments when it completes a deal it struck in the summer with Total.

The deal includes trade, fixed assets and stock of transport, commercial and home heating oil distribution business Total Butler, the share capital of Total's oil distribution and retail service station businesses on the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and contracts to supply transport fuels to about 300 dealer owned and operated retail service stations that are currently branded Total.

Call for inquiry into isles' fuel price rises "Scottish Fuels"

Call for inquiry into isles' fuel price rise

Published Date: 20 September 2011                              

By John Ross

A SCOTTISH Government minister wants MSPs to carry out an investigation into petrol price rises in the Western Isles.

It follows pump prices rising by up to 5p a litre in the islands as fuel duty is due to be cut by a similar amount. Alasdair Allan, the islands' MSP and minister for learning and skills, has asked the Scottish Parliament's energy committee to conduct an inquiry.

The Treasury announced last week that it was planning a 5p a litre fuel discount scheme for the Hebrides, Skye and Orkney after receiving European Commission approval. However, Western Isles Council said forcecourt prices had since risen by at least 3p a litre on Lewis and Harris.

Mr Allan wants an inquiry to look into an apparent monopoly on fuel supply to the islands.

Page 1 of 1

• Last Updated: 19 September 2011 9:15 PM
• Source: The Scotsman
• Location: Edinburgh

DCC considers moving main listing to London

DCC CHAIRMAN Michael Buckley has said the company is “actively monitoring” the possibility of moving its primary listing to London and switching its reporting currency to sterling.
DCC’S three executive directors shared remuneration of €2.81 million in the year to the end of March 2011, down almost 12 per cent from €3.19 million the previous year.
The industrial holdings group’s chief executive, Tommy Breen, was paid €1.41 million for the period, down some 16 per cent from €1.67 million the previous year.
Finance director Fergal O’Dwyer was paid €753,000, down 5 per cent from €792,000, while Donal Murphy, the managing director of DCC Energy and an executive director of the group, was paid €651,000, down 9.6 per cent from €720,000.
DCC chairman Michael Buckley got a total fee of €190,000 for the year, down from €225,000.
That's it boys come to the UK you will get more cash over here. If you are looking for a sub the drivers can have a whip round to make up the loss that you have to suffer.Hahahah!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is the 63rd birthday

Tomorrow is the 63rd birthday of the NHS - but it's fighting for its life.

Despite the sham "listening exercise" and resulting cosmetic changes to the NHS Bill, the government's privatisation plans are still on track. It's up to us to stop them.

If you want our NHS to live to see 64, please send your MP our birthday e-card today, asking them to oppose the Health and Social Care Bill:

Without any action, Cameron's "birthday present" to the NHS will be one that keeps on giving: cuts totalling more than £20bn in the next four years. Already this has meant 50,000 job losses, reduced clinical services and rising waiting times.

You can stop this happening. Please take just a couple of minutes now to send your MP an e-card and save our public health service.

http://nhs.unitetheunion.org/nhs-birthday

Before the election, David Cameron promised that the NHS would be safe in his hands. It's clear now that's not true - and it's down to us to protect it.

GB OIls DCC capitalises on big freeze with 15% profit rise

LAST WINTER’S adverse weather conditions helped to boost DCC’s performance for the year to the end of March, with the industrial holdings group posting a 15 per cent jump in pretax profits to €189.6 million.
Revenues at the industrial conglomerate increased by almost 30 per cent to €8.7 million.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0511/1224296698170.html

The Board is recommending a 10.0% increase in the final dividend.

RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS
	€		Change on prior year
			Reported
Revenue	8,680.6m		+29.1%
Operating profit*	229.6m		+19.1%
Profit before net exceptional items, amortisation of intangible assets and tax	214.8m		+18.0%
Profit before tax	189.6m		+15.0%

Whats going on with GB Oils, Union and Blog

A lot of you have been asking about the lack of activity by the Union on the Blog well as you all know this blog does not belong to the Union!!! But at the moment due to the NNC losing a lot of members due to personal, sickness and sackings we have to get a new committee set up from all around the country and also get a new JCC up and running.


Now the company has got what they wanted when this happened by get there pay rise out to the workforce. As you all know the company has made a lot of money over the last few years so what you are getting is a drop in the ocean to DCC.

The workforce has accepted the poor pay offer of 4% so don’t moan to the blog or blame your Shop Stewards or the Union. You and only you guys got to vote on it.



More worrying is what is happing around the Country we have received a lot of e mails from Drivers that the Company is just doing what it wants when it comes to how different brands and Managers deal with incidents, spills, crossovers and all that comes with the job.

It has been told that in some depot’s some driver can get away with murder and in the same depot with the same incident another driver can end up with a written warning ? is the fair NO of course not it is victimizing the drivers that are willing to stand up for theirs self’s yet if you are a YES man you can do what you want and get away with it .

So what we are looking for is examples of incidents of spills, crossovers, RTA from all depots and all brands and the out comes so we can build up a bigger picture from around the Country.

We are doing this so that all the workforce have a fair place to come to work free from bullying and intimidation and its not just for the yes men.

The Union will be looking to recruit more shop stewards so its up to you guys if you want to help. You can contact Fraser on is e-mail or a shop steward.



As to some of the comments saying that the blog should shut down well that’s up to the workforce if you are not reading it then there is no a use for it ? But going by the figures there is still a need for it.

And if you are a driver asking for it to close then you must be up to things that you should not be. ( it will all come out in the wash )

Some have complained that what is said about the company is bad for jobs? Well its what the customers say that you should be worrying about.

The trouble is the truth hurts and know the customer now the truth it’s going to take a long time for the to trust the Company and its work force as we are all tarred with the same brush.

Yours Fraser

DCC acquires Heating Oil Distributor, PACE Fuelcare

http://www.oilfiredup.com/site/news/item/1220

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0218/1224290139779.html


 A warm welcome to the Blog to our new Colleagues from Pace Fuelcare.

What’s the problem?

The current problems with heating oil are twofold: firstly,
the price of oil has shot up in the past month, jumping from under 40p a litre
to more than 70p in some cases. However, the price of crude oil – which is
refined to make heating oil – has only gone up by around 10%, leading to
allegations that oil companies are fixing their prices.

In some places, suppliers have been charging as much as £2 a
litre, while in others the price has stayed at around 50p. This has led some to
suggest a few companies might be using the cold weather and the subsequent
increase in demand as an excuse to put up prices.

Secondly, snow is stopping oil deliveries getting through to
some areas. The Government has admitted the situation could become ''very
serious'' if we get more snow, with many homes having to wait up to four weeks
for oil to be delivered.

Price fixing?

Energy Minister Charles Hendry has told MPs that the Office
of Fair Trading (OFT) will now belooking out for any alleged cases of
price-fixing ''I have spoken to the OFT about the price of oil, as the
enforcement of competition consumer law is a matter for them,” he said.''They
have assured me that they are keeping a very close eye on the situation and are
keen to receive evidence from members about any market abuse they are
experiencing.''

Deliveries

The Government said it was also talking to suppliers about
rationing oil so that the estimated 660,000 homes, many in remote areas, don’t
go without. Some people have called their oil supplier to be told they won’t
get a delivery for three or four weeks, at a time when temperatures are
unlikely to rise above freezing.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said he backed
Mr Hendry to deal with the shortage.

He told the House of Commons, "In the last 72 hours we
have been trying to ensure drivers can work longer, that they can get heating
oil to the homes that need it.

"The energy minister has been in constant discussions
looking at any way in which those who need heating oil, and are short of
heating oil, get it. That is absolutely essential.”

The Government has also considered rationing to ensure there
is enough oil to go round. However, Pat Glass, the Labour MP for North West
Durham, said many oil suppliers were refusing to deliver less than 1,000 litres
and accused them of "utter exploitation".

Watch out for thieves

Rural insurer NFU Mutual has warned that rising prices and
predictions of fuel rationing could lead to a rise in fuel thefts in areas
where people rely on heating oil.

When it conducted its annual Rural Crime Survey earlier this
year, domestic fuel was sixth on the list of the 10 items most commonly stolen
from the countryside. With thousands of homes predicted to run short of heating
oil over the Christmas period, the insurer is concerned the trend will escalate
as heating oil becomes a lucrative commodity for thieves.

Local offices across the UK have reported incidents of
heating oil and diesel being stolen shortly after delivery, and it would appear
that thieves are even following tankers from the depot and making a note of
where fuel is delivered. This enables the thieves to return under cover of
darkness and help themselves to the contents of full tanks.

Be security conscious NFU Mutual suggests householders deter
thieves from entering their property by installing and using lockable gates and
by maintaining boundaries and perimeter fencing. It also suggests fitting a
locking cap to your tank and planting shrubs or installing fences to hide
exposed domestic heating oil tanks from opportunist thieves.

Worryingly, the insurer warns that if thieves have already
stolen fuel from your tank they may return to steal any replacement oil you
order – so be especially vigilant following any oil delivery.

Happy Xmas

Colleagues,

 Clearly the snow and ice is dominating the headlines but also creating difficulties for workers getting into work or in some cases making work difficult or even dangerous particularly in outdoor, transport or logistics related jobs.

 I would be grateful if you could contact me  ciaran.naidoo@unitetheunion.com   if you are aware of any particular difficulties members/reps might be experiencing with their employers because of the snow and ice.

 If you have any examples - with a view to publication - of employers behaving unacceptably with staff because of the weather I would be grateful if you could let me know. Equally if you have any examples of good practice from employers or agreements the union has reached related to the weather conditions which might be worth publication could you also let me know too. Or any examples of workers doing great work in difficult conditions would be good too

Who are you buying your domestic heating oil from?

www.boilerjuice.com/

http://swinny.net/

http://www.heatingoil.co.uk/

http://heating-oil.blogs-uk.co.uk

Victimisation

A senior steward was targeted today for carrying his mobile phone. He was put on a truck that didn't have a cab phone and was sent a text by a member of management to his personal phone. When he returned to the depot his cab was searched.
This rule is now in the drivers handbook. It is accepted however, that management use this form of communication widely and regularly when drivers are on vehicles without a cab phone. There is documented evidence of this all across the UK.
With this in mind we can only assume that this is harrasment and victimisation of a shop steward and for obvious reason.


***** The driver has now been suspended****** but only after they got him to do is last load ?

Following the suspension of an NNC member a full time officer will be making representation to the company 1st thing Monday morning. If anyone has any evidence that management use personal mobiles to contact drivers or pay for phone top ups where there is no cab phones, please contact Fraser Ross who will pass on this information to a Full Time officer in support of our steward.

This is national hotline number to call if you see an  truck working that should not be or driver that is working over is wtd .This number puts you through to the VI inteligence unit who,I am assured, will take your call in strictest confidence and if you so wish anonymously.The more info you can supply the better.
0870 60 60 440

National Intelligence Co-ordinator- Phil Stokes, 0117 954 3336

Intelligence Officers;-
Scotland - Vic Grant 0131 244 6520


North West - Mike Power 0161 947 1050


North East- Tracey Collins 01937 844724


South Wales and West Midlands -


Nigel Wright 01452 382781


Eastern - David Templeman 01536 513621


South Eastern- Gordon Richardson 01903 767593


Western - Ian Gould 01722 414131
A ########## haulage firm has been fined £15,000 for flouting driver’s hours laws which could have led to serious or fatal accidents.

Bosses of ######-based ****** Transport pleaded guilty to 30 offences of driver’s exceeding legal daily driving periods and not taking the necessary rest.
They were sentenced at Scunthorpe Magistrates court on Monday (17 May) where the firm was fined £500 for each offence and ordered to pay a further £30,000 towards prosecution costs.
Two of the firm’s drivers appeared at court and pleaded guilty to creating false drivers hours records.
Fines were also handed out to six further employees for driving for too long and not taking proper rests. The drivers were fined a total of £3,290 including costs and victims surcharge.

It follows an18-month investigation by government road safety agency Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). Examiners from VOSA began looking at the companies records in December 2008 and discovered that it had been ignoring the regulations which protect the safety of the drivers and other road users.
Alex Fiddes, VOSA Chief Operating Officer said:
Tired drivers run the risk of causing serious or fatal accidents. This case shows what a dim view the courts take of drivers and operators who abuse driver’s hours rules and don’t take proper rests.
VOSA is determined to find and prosecute those people who endanger the lives of other road users in this way.”

Competition worries force GB Oils to sell Western Isles fuel interests

A FUEL distribution business has offered to sell its newly– acquired interests on the Western Isles over competition concerns.
The Office of Fair Trading said yesterday that it was considering an offer by Cheshire-based GB Oils to dispose of the Brogan oil distribution operations it acquired last year as part of a wider deal.
GB Oils, part of Irish-listed conglomerate DCC bought out Motherwell-based Brogan in a £42.5 million deal. The watchdog has since said that the merger raised competition concerns in the Western Isles, where the enlarged group would have accounted for almost the entire supply of heating oils and transport fuels.
In addition to offering to dispose of the distribution business on the islands, GB Oils also said it would offer a potential purchaser a fuel storage facility at its marine oil terminal in Stornoway.
Amelia Fletcher, OFT senior director for mergers, said: "The OFT received a large number of complaints regarding the impact of the merger in the Western Isles. After a careful investigation, we agreed that there were competition concerns.
Once finalised, we are confident that the divestment package will restore pre-merger levels of competition for the distribution of heating oils and transport fuels.

DCC to buy Paris-based supplier of electronics for initial sum of €11.4m

DCC IS to acquire French electronics distributor Comtrade for €11.4 million, with a deferred consideration of up to €9.8 million to be paid over three years

"Up North"

Vehicle examiners in Scotland are expected to be given powers to stop suspect vehicles for the first time in a bid to cut the number of dangerous trucks and coaches on the roads.

The proposals would give the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) more flexibility in tackling vehicles they suspect are overloaded or breaking operating or driving hours rules.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has been lobbying Westminster to change the law, which says police must accompany vehicle inspectors on the roadside lorry checks, which aim to take dangerous and defective vehicles off the road.

Now it has emerged the Department of Transport (DoT) is proposing to allow VOSA officials to carry out the checks on their own – as they already do in England and Wales.

Britain’s tanker drivers have had enough,

Britain’s tanker drivers have had enough, Unite warns
The UK's major oil companies, retailers and independents providing fuel for the nation have been warned by Unite the union that their strategy of squeezing conditions of delivery drivers to feed profits will backfire with potentially serious consequences for the country.
With morale among the estimated 3000 drivers at an all-time low, Unite has written to the leading operators in the fuel sector (see list in Notes below) to warn them that unstable employment, redundancies arising from constant reorganisation of operations and attacks on earnings are forcing the workforce towards conflict.
Such are the scale of the problems that Unite has called an autumn summit to consider the action needed to safeguard stability within the sector. Unite is urging the employers to stop and think again about their employment strategy, offering them this opportunity to enter into discussions now with the union to avert possible industrial action later in the year.
Ron Webb, Unite's national officer for logistics, said: "We have consistently warned the oil employers that their strategy of attacking wages and squeezing more and more out of their drivers but giving them less and less in return will backfire.
"Unfortunately, they have not listened so now we are at a very dangerous moment for this sector. In my fifteen years as a negotiator for this sector I have never witnessed such low morale among the drivers. This is a workforce which is highly specialist and delivers a product this country's smooth functioning depends upon. They are also working for some of the most profitable companies in the land. All they are asking for in return is a wage which reflects their hard work and professionalism."
Unite claims that the greater use of alternative contractors only too willing to undercut other employers is behind the driving down of wages and hitting conditions of employment. In addition, tanker drivers are reporting a brutal management style with little protection for the drivers.
Ron Webb continued: "It is sadly not unusual for a tanker driver to have long service and a good work record yet to find that if they make mistake, have one bad day, they are then sacked. It is now a ‘one strike and you are out’ culture which places drivers under dreadful pressure.
"Time and workers' patience are now running out so we appeal to the key stakeholders to engage with Unite in finding a better way forward. Minimum standards on safety and decent terms and conditions are a prerequisite for success in this sector. So too must the attacks on workers' pensions cease and the merry-go-round where it is not unusual for drivers to have as many as ten different employers with no or poor pensions when they retire. Quite simply enough is enough."
In the letter to the country's leading petroleum sector employers, Unite’s assistant general secretary Len McCluskey, writes:
"We know at this moment in time there are many challenges facing the UK economy, which Unite fully understands and is dealing with in a variety of ways. Notwithstanding this, it is our firm belief that unless the key stakeholders within this particular sector must take considerable note of the serious deterioration in employee morale with the constant threats to continued employment, the constant threats arising from cost down agendas, constant attacks on our members’ terms and conditions of employment, which all give rise to an extremely negative period within this sector."

For further information, please contact Ron Webb on 07976 833 487 or Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861
Notes: Unite has written to the following employers within the sector:
Asda Stores Ltd
BP Oils Ltd
Conocophillips Petroleum Ltd
Esso Petroleum Company Ltd
GB Oils
Greenergy Fuels Ltd
J Sainsbury PLC
Kuwait Petroleum (UK Holdings) Ltd
Murco Petroleum Ltd
PACE Petroleum Ltd
Petroplus Refining & Marketing Ltd
Shell Tankers (UK) Ltd
Tesco Distribution Ltd
WM Morrisons Supermarkets PLC
Total UK Ltd
Texaco